Naveed Akram appeared via video link in a Sydney court from the highest security Goulburn Correctional Centre, where he is being held. He did not plead guilty to the charges against him, which include murder and the commission of a terrorist act. A brief court hearing focused primarily on the extension of a suppression order preventing the disclosure of the identities of victims and survivors who did not choose to publicly identify themselves.

The defense lawyer, Ben Archbold, informed the press that Akram is coping as well as can be expected under the circumstances, and it is still too early to indicate any intentions regarding a plea. Akram, 24, was injured during a police shootout, while his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed during the attack that occurred on December 14 after a Chanukah celebration at a beach.

This police investigation is one of three official inquiries into the incident, reflecting the significant concerns about public safety and the impact of the attack on the Jewish community in Australia. The next court hearing for Naveed Akram is scheduled for April 9, which will continue to unfold the legal complexities surrounding this tragic event.